Artist Interview: Sandra Rose

Today we’re interviewing artist Sandra Rose of Sandra Rose Designs, who has been with GCU since 2008 – please give it up to a very successful lady!

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What drew you to join GCU, Sandra?

Corrie Kuipers cards in particular. If I didn’t make my own cards, I would be buying her cards. They are so cute and clever. The additional cards on GCU were all unique, quality designs that drew me back time and time again, and I knew that I wanted to be a part of this company.

Tell us who you are, where you are, and what you do.

I live in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. I am a former music teacher. I made cards by hand as a hobby, and that hobby grew, as I sold my cards to stores. When I became a grandmother for the first time, I left teaching, and spent more time with my grandchildren, and had more time to design and sell cards. I went back to school for 2 years to learn all I could about graphic design, so I could bring to life the ideas that I had for cards.

What’s your favorite greeting card on GCU that you’ve created?

This card makes me feel good, and a message for everyone else!

Where else can we find you?

I have a website, am on Facebook, Twitter and have started a blog, but don’t do much with any of them. I have several lenses on Squidoo.

What or who inspires you?

Being aware of my surroundings. I love looking at magazines, advertisements, billboards – anything visual in print. I look to see what emotion or message the visual is evoking. I try to classify the image into classic, retro, tailored, organic, etc. and study the relationships between the elements in a photograph. I like to see the typography and how that interacts and reinforces the message. What is the font itself saying?

What motivates you to design greeting cards?

I like to design cards where I see a need. What is missing in the marketplace. GCU is perfect for that – that is the strength – the “long tail” of the business. I also design sometimes by playing – when the visual or the message works, I make it into a card that is most appropriate.

What’s your workspace like?

It is mostly functional and spartan – not a lot of bells and whistles. I don’t like to be distracted by my surroundings.

What’s the most indispensable item you use to create your art?

My Apple desktop computer!

What tools do you use to create your work?

Computer, camera, my drawings that I scan in as a base element. I use Illustrator – my favorite, but also need Photoshop for my work.

When and why did you start selling your designs as greeting cards?

I started in 1999 designing and selling my cards in stores.

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Thank you for a lovely interview! It was great to learn a little more about you, and we wish you good luck in your card designing/making venture!

Sandra, lovely, informative and easy conversational interview. We’ve been on GCU together for over 3 years now and I’ve learned to recognize your art (which I love) at a glance. Even so, it is so nice to get to know you better. (>8 Thank you for your gracious sharing of yourself.

Lovely interview and especially lovely cards, Sandra! I’ll have to admit that I’m envious that you managed to go back to school for two years and study graphic design. On a personal note, my daughter recently moved to the Pittsburgh area… so this is one of those pleasant surprises (to me) that makes the GCU Community seem like it has more of a ‘neighborly’ feel to it. 😀